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Throngs of people turn out Thanksgiving for early Black Friday

BY REBEKAH CANSLER MCGEEThe Dispatch

Published: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 11:46 a.m.

Black Friday, or Brown Thursday as one shopper jokingly called it, attracted both early birds and night owls when Davidson County retailers began opening around 8 Thanksgiving night with staggered specials.

Starr Tysinger (foreground) lies against a light pole while waiting in line with other late-night shoppers for Belk Department Store at Lexington Plaza to open at midnight Thursday night.

Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch

Despite the bitter cold temperatures, shoppers braved the elements for a deal. Belk's advertised prices enticed a line of over 250 shoppers with an hour to go before the doors opened at midnight. Some people were hopping in place to stay warm, some bundled with heavy coats and earmuffs, and someone even laid down on the sidewalk and curled into the fetal position with a blanket wrapped snuggly around her.

The four women at the front of the line — Tammy Johnson, Beverly Phillips, Lisa Whitley and Kayla Phillips — shivered with their arms tucked in their sleeves. They arrived at Belk around 8 p.m. but didn't immediately get out of their heated car. When others began showing up about a half an hour later, the group hightailed it to the front door to be the first in line.

The four had seen the crowds of Black Friday before, but Johnson had never done anything like this.

“I like watching the people go after the sales,” Johnson said, adding that as soon as her friend Phillips had the cowboy boots she desired they would travel to h.h. gregg in Winston-Salem. “As soon as we leave, we're going to do it again.”

Shopping with friends or family on such a crowded day is a must for some. Debra Tysinger has battled the Black Friday crowds for more than 10 years and with buggies in hand, Tysinger, her four daughters, a daughter-in-law and two friends whom she called family stood in line at Walmart to purchase multiple items ranging from a televisions to a fire pit.

“We got here about 7 p.m. I wanted more fire pits, but the crowd about knocked me down. I came for four and ended up with one,” Tysinger said about 10:20 p.m.

Even though the deals drew the women to Walmart, the friendship and quality time keep them coming back year after year.

“The best part is spending time with my girls. We're going to be shopping all night long … we're not stopping till the money runs out,” Tysinger said.

But for some, a marathon of store purchases was not their idea of a good time. Tabitha Story arrived at Walmart around 3:30 p.m. for a 40-inch Emerson television priced at $198. She has been showing up at area stores on Black Friday for the past six years, but Thursday night would not be too long of a night for her.

“After I get my television, I'm going home,” Story said.

As the sales become better and better and marketers find new ways to bring customers into their store on one of the largest shopping days of the year, first-timers ventured out of the comfort of their home to see what all the fuss was about.

New to the scene was one female customer who arrived at five minutes to 10 p.m. for the Emerson television at Walmart. She was annoyed when she discovered the 25 vouchers had already been given out, arguing that the sale was advertised for 10 p.m. The line for the television wound its way through Walmart's frozen food section.

Another newbie to Black Friday, Iris Mauney, figured she would try shopping on Black Friday for the first time because she didn't have to get up so early Friday with many sales beginning at 10 p.m. and midnight Thursday.

“I was walking up the parking lot, looking at all the people and I said, ‘This is the craziest thing I have ever done!'” Mauney said.

Rebekah Cansler McGee can be reached at 249-3981 ext. 228 or rebekah.mcgee@the-dispatch.com.

<p>Black Friday, or Brown Thursday as one shopper jokingly called it, attracted both early birds and night owls when Davidson County retailers began opening around 8 Thanksgiving night with staggered specials.</p><p>Despite the bitter cold temperatures, shoppers braved the elements for a deal. Belk's advertised prices enticed a line of over 250 shoppers with an hour to go before the doors opened at midnight. Some people were hopping in place to stay warm, some bundled with heavy coats and earmuffs, and someone even laid down on the sidewalk and curled into the fetal position with a blanket wrapped snuggly around her.</p><p>The four women at the front of the line — Tammy Johnson, Beverly Phillips, Lisa Whitley and Kayla Phillips — shivered with their arms tucked in their sleeves. They arrived at Belk around 8 p.m. but didn't immediately get out of their heated car. When others began showing up about a half an hour later, the group hightailed it to the front door to be the first in line. </p><p>The four had seen the crowds of Black Friday before, but Johnson had never done anything like this.</p><p>“I like watching the people go after the sales,” Johnson said, adding that as soon as her friend Phillips had the cowboy boots she desired they would travel to h.h. gregg in Winston-Salem. “As soon as we leave, we're going to do it again.”</p><p>Shopping with friends or family on such a crowded day is a must for some. Debra Tysinger has battled the Black Friday crowds for more than 10 years and with buggies in hand, Tysinger, her four daughters, a daughter-in-law and two friends whom she called family stood in line at Walmart to purchase multiple items ranging from a televisions to a fire pit.</p><p>“We got here about 7 p.m. I wanted more fire pits, but the crowd about knocked me down. I came for four and ended up with one,” Tysinger said about 10:20 p.m.</p><p>Even though the deals drew the women to Walmart, the friendship and quality time keep them coming back year after year. </p><p>“The best part is spending time with my girls. We're going to be shopping all night long … we're not stopping till the money runs out,” Tysinger said.</p><p>But for some, a marathon of store purchases was not their idea of a good time. Tabitha Story arrived at Walmart around 3:30 p.m. for a 40-inch Emerson television priced at $198. She has been showing up at area stores on Black Friday for the past six years, but Thursday night would not be too long of a night for her.</p><p>“After I get my television, I'm going home,” Story said.</p><p>As the sales become better and better and marketers find new ways to bring customers into their store on one of the largest shopping days of the year, first-timers ventured out of the comfort of their home to see what all the fuss was about.</p><p>New to the scene was one female customer who arrived at five minutes to 10 p.m. for the Emerson television at Walmart. She was annoyed when she discovered the 25 vouchers had already been given out, arguing that the sale was advertised for 10 p.m. The line for the television wound its way through Walmart's frozen food section.</p><p>Another newbie to Black Friday, Iris Mauney, figured she would try shopping on Black Friday for the first time because she didn't have to get up so early Friday with many sales beginning at 10 p.m. and midnight Thursday. </p><p>“I was walking up the parking lot, looking at all the people and I said, 'This is the craziest thing I have ever done!'” Mauney said. </p><p>Rebekah Cansler McGee can be reached at 249-3981 ext. 228 or rebekah.mcgee@the-dispatch.com.</p>